NIH policy requires applicants who seek research support of at least $500,000 (direct costs) in a single year to seek permission to submit the application from an Institute or Center at least six weeks before the intended submission date.

As part of new cost control measures NIA is revising how this policy is being implemented at NIA in the following ways:

NIA has established a budget for accepting large applications. Each program division has been assigned a budget for accepting large applications for review. NIA Program Divisions may accept applications that request $500,000 (direct costs) or more in a single year only if accepting such applications allows the Program Division to stay within its budget for that fiscal year. The policy applies to new, resubmission, renewal, and revision applications.

NIA limits the share of the competing budget assigned to large awards. NIA is also restricting the share of the overall competing research grant budget that may be awarded to large grants. In FY 2011, NIA will limit the share of competing RPG funds going to large grants to no more than the share of competing RPG budget awarded to large grants in FY 2010 (50% of competing dollars). In future years NIA will announce the share of the competing budget going to large awards on its website.

Given the limits on program divisions’ ability to accept large applications, NIA strongly encourages applicants to submit such requests as early as possible in the planning phase of the application and well before the six week deadline. Applicants may submit the request directly to program staff. When the appropriate program officials are not known then applicants may submit inquiries to the individual listed below.

NIA will continue to update its website as additional information about the budget in FY 2011 and beyond becomes available.